BORDEAUX, France and FRIDAY HARBOR, Wash. — December 26, 2012 — In response to the ongoing bloodshed of pilot whales in the Faroe Islands as part of the brutal, ritual hunt known as “Grindagrap.” or the “Grind,” the global marine conservation nonprofit, Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, reports Denmark is in violation of three conventions it has signed whereby it vowed to do everything within its capacity to protect pilot whales — the Bern Convention, Bonn Convention and ASCOBANS. As a result, Sea Shepherd is bringing the matter to the European Commission in order to compel Denmark to abide by the obligations contained in these conventions and act to uphold the principles outlined therein.

For centuries, pilot whales have been slaughtered as they’ve approached the shores of the Faroe Islands [1]. The drive and kill of entire families of whales is called “Grindadrap,” or the “Grind.” Denmark claims it has no say in stopping the “Grind,” but in 2010 and 2011 it sent a military ship and helicopter to patrol the Faroese waters while Sea Shepherd was on site to prevent Sea Shepherd from intervening. Sea Shepherd has been engaged in opposing these merciless slaughters since 1984 and has sent a ship to document the bloodshed several times [2].

If those killings were once necessary to the survival of the Faroese people, those days are long gone. The Faroese population now enjoys the highest standard of living in Europe and also receives important subsidies from Europe through Denmark.

Due to the fact that the flesh of the pilot whales now contains very high levels of mercury and pollutants, Faroese health officials have stated that it is no longer suited for human consumption. Indeed, the levels of mercury can reach ten times higher than European legal limits. Yet, the Grindadrap continues. It is now the largest slaughter of marine mammals in Europe.

Pilot whales must endure many modern threats (overfishing, competition for food, acidification of the oceans, bycatch, military sonar exercises/seismic tests and more). On top of these threats, this magnificent species should not have to suffer useless slaughters, presented as traditional practice, when in fact the most modern technology is being used. Motor boats, jet-skis, cell phones, radar and even a helicopter have replaced the row boats and the smoke signals (for communication) that were used in centuries gone.

Everywhere else in Europe, pilot whales are being protected and efforts are being made to reduce bycatch and accidental disturbances/risks, but in the Faroe Islands, entire families are still being driven to the beaches and being completely exterminated in one of the most brutal, man-made slaughters on Earth. Due to their complex intelligence and strong social bond with their podmates, their high level of self-awareness and very strong solidarity with one another, these creatures suffer a tremendous amount of stress and unspeakable agony before and during the actual killing, which ironically comes as the liberating outcome of this horrific torture.

Extract from the book, Pilot Whaling in the Faroe Islands by Joan Paul Joensen (Faroe University Press (3)):

“With long lances and knives the men fought, using hooks attached to lines to draw the boats within striking distance; and as the blood flowed freely from the wounded whales, their comrades would not leave them. Even if they reached clear water, they turned again ‘seeking the blood.’ The large whales seemed to be trying to protect the small ones. Some of the whales, maddened by lance wounds, rushed forward and were stranded in the shallows where they were met by men of Sorvagur and Bour, who, breast deep in blood and water, struck again and again with their grind knives to severe the spinal cord. (…) At last it was over. Not one whale escaped. A hot, heavy odor filled the air; two hundred eighty-six whales lay dead and dying on Midvagur Beach. (…) Their broad thick lips curved backward in a grotesque smile, disclosing the small white teeths clenched fast. There lay the leader of the flock, and there – oh the pity of it! – were poor little baby whales lying by their mothers, born in the agony of panic and of death.”

The “Grind” is a holdover from a bloody era. It has done its time. If we’re not able to put an end to slaughters as cruel and senseless as this one, how can we hope to reasonably succeed in the far more challenging task of halting the devastating effects of our standard of overconsumption on this planet? Today, humankind has to mature or it will die. It is time for present generations to start caring for this world that we are borrowing from our children. It is time to relegate the “Grind” to where it belongs — the past — and put an end to the largest slaughter of marine mammals in Europe.

Sea Shepherd – France would like to warmly acknowledge the precious support of Mr. Sylvain Leroy, our pro bono attorney from Bordeaux, France, for all of his work on this case.

Sea Shepherd Founder and President Captain Paul Watson is a world renowned, respected leader in environmental issues. He was a co-founder of Greenpeace, has won countless awards for his decades of conservation work, and in 2000 was named one of Time Magazine’s Top 20 Environmental Heroes of the 20th Century.

About Sea Shepherd Conservation Society

Established in 1977, Sea Shepherd Conservation Society (S.S.C.S.) is an international non-profit conservation organization whose mission is to end the destruction of habitat and slaughter of wildlife in the world’s oceans in order to conserve and protect ecosystems and species. Sea Shepherd uses innovative direct-action tactics to investigate, document, and take action when necessary to expose and confront illegal activities on the high seas. By safeguarding the biodiversity of our delicately balanced oceanic ecosystems, Sea Shepherd works to ensure their survival for future generations. Visit www.seashepherd.org for more information.

About the author

Michael "Beach Mick" Hudson is the founder and Editor of Beach Carolina Magazine. Living along the coast of North Carolina, Mike has a passion for the beach and loves to bring news and events of the Carolinas to others around the world.

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